Florida – In a shocking incident in Florida, a 22-year-old woman, identified as Z. Marshall, is facing a felony attempted murder charge after she stabbed a man she had recently met online, plunging a knife into the back of his neck during a heated confrontation where she was insulted. The attack occurred inside her home, where the two had spent the night together after connecting on social media just two days prior.
Marshall was arrested and charged on Sunday, following an investigation by the police department. According to the criminal complaint, the incident unfolded after a verbal altercation escalated into violence, leaving the victim seriously wounded and hospitalized. The victim told detectives that he met Marshall on a social media platform and was invited to her residence. He accepted the invitation and spent the night there. However, what started as a seemingly casual encounter quickly took a violent turn the following evening.
Police say that the two got into a verbal argument during which the victim began gathering his belongings to leave. At one point, Marshall allegedly began going through his pockets looking for rolling papers. This act seemed to agitate the victim, who then called her “retarded,” a term often used to insult people with intellectual disabilities. In response, Marshall allegedly snapped and shouted, “You wanna see retarded?” She then grabbed a knife and, according to the complaint, stabbed the man once in the back of the neck.
Police received a 911 call just after 9 p.m. on Saturday, reporting a stabbing at Marshall’s address. When officers arrived, they found the victim with a serious neck wound. He was rushed to a hospital for treatment and later interviewed by detectives from the Criminal Investigations Division. During his hospital interview, the victim recounted the events leading up to the stabbing and later identified Marshall as the perpetrator. Police then returned to her residence and took her into custody the following day. Marshall allegedly claimed the stabbing was an act of self-defense. According to her statement to police, the victim had punched her in the face, prompting her to grab a knife in fear. However, officers noted that Marshall had no visible injuries and refused to allow them to take photographs of her. The report also mentions that she did not appear to be in distress at the time of arrest.
A deeper look into Marshall’s background revealed a troubling history. She was already on probation and under a monitored house arrest program when the incident occurred. Her criminal record includes prior arrests for armed robbery in July, domestic battery in 2023, and battery in 2022. She remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in court this month to face the attempted murder charge.
The case highlights how quickly tensions can erupt into violence, especially in situations involving unstable relationships and volatile personalities. What began as an online connection between two strangers has now led to a life-threatening injury, a serious criminal charge, and a young woman already on probation facing the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence. As the legal proceedings move forward, the court will have to weigh Marshall’s self-defense claim against the physical evidence and testimony of the victim — a man who, according to police, was nearly killed after uttering a cruel insult that spiraled into bloodshed.
